Compare And Contrast The Lottery And Harrison Bergeron

“Do not blindly believe what others say. See for yourself what brings contentment, clarity, and peace. That is the path for you to follow” (Buddha). Live your own life and do what brings you joy in life. You never know if what you are doing is morally right and if it is affecting people. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” a town gathers together to repeat a yearly tradition. “Harrison Bergeron'' by Kurt Vonnegut is a short story about a kid who tries to rebel against equality and the government’s rules. Ray Bradbury’s story “The Pedestrian” shows a man walking down empty streets as other citizens sit inside quietly watching T.V. While each story is unique and different, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, “Harrison Bergeron'' by Kurt Vonnegut,

For example, as the town gets ready to draw names for the lottery; the author says, “ The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions: most of them were quiet. wetting their lips. not looking around” (Jackson 3). The citizens of this society follow the leader and go along with the horrible tradition. They are so used to doing what they are told that they don’t listen or think about it. Our society can’t be bossed around into customs that aren’t good. Later in the story, after she got picked and was set to get stoned; Tessie screams, “‘It isn't fair, it isn't right’” (Jackson 7). Tessie H. is coming face to face with the law and she is realizing and expressing how this shouldn’t be continued. Our community has to realize how these ideas shouldn't be continued and one should stop them and not go along with them instinctively. “The Lottery” shows how society can't carelessly obey past customs and

For example, as Mr. Mead is walking around the quiet streets and starts talking to the houses; “‘What is it now?’ [...] ‘Eight-thirty P.M.? Time for a dozen assorted murders? A quiz? A revue? A comedian falling off the stage?’” (Bradbury 1). Mead is showing how there are only a few options that can be watched on the T.V. Their society is watching the same thing and the government is controlling and brainwashing them. Later in the story, as the car was questioning Mr. Mead about his life; the narrator says,”Everything went on in the tomblike houses at night now, he thought, continuing his fancy. The tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their faces, but never really touching them” (Bradbury 2). The government is controlling the T.V. and making the citizens addicted and not acting human. Their society is getting led by the government to watch the channels they put on. Before humanity obeys all of the government's ideas, one must learn what is happening and what they are being led into. In conclusion, the author of “The Pedestrian” warns the reader to not senselessly follow ideas from